Samuel  Johnson, 
1709-178U. 


34-5S? 


CATALOGUE 

OF  AN 

Exhibition  of  Manuscripts,  First  Editions 
Early  Engravings 

and  Various  Literature  Relating  to 

SAMUEL  JOHNSON 

1709-1784 


Arranged  by 
CHAUNCEY  BREWSTER  TINKER 

Assistant  Professor  of  English  in  Y»le  College 


YALE  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 
November  I  -  6 

1909 


CATALOGUE 

OF  AN 

Exhibition  of  Manuscripts,  First  Editions 
Early  Engravings 

and  Various  Literature  Relating  to 

SAMUEL  JOHNSON 

1709-1784 


Arranged  by 
CHAUNCEY   BREWSTER  TINKER 

Assistant  Professor  of  English  in  Yale  College 


YALE  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 

November  1  -  6 

1909 


INTRODUCTORY   NOTE. 


I  am  indebted  for  the  success  of  this  exhibition  to  the 
courtesy  of  the  following  eminent  collectors:  R.  B.  Adam, 
Esq.,  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  who  generousl}'  placed  at  the  dis- 
posal of  the  University  the  invaluable  collection  of  his  late 
father,  the  Hon.  R.  B.  Adam;  A.  Edward  Newton,  Esq.,  of 
Da3'lesford,  Penns3ivania,  who  has  given  assistance  not 
only  by  his  loans  but  b}-  an  enthusiasm  as  continuous  as  it 
has  been  keen;  Dr.  Rosenbach  of  Philadelphia,  who  has 
kindly  sent  us  the  only  known  copy  of  Johnson's  poem  pro- 
nounced at  the  opening  of  the  Drury  Lane  Theatre;  and 
J.  Pierpont  Morgan,  Esq.,  of  New  York  City,  who  has  lent 
four  of  his  unique  MSS.  For  engravings,  some  of  which  are 
for  sale,  we  are  indebted  to  Messrs.  Keppel  &  Company  and 
Messrs.  J.  O.  Wright  &  Company  of  New  York  City. 

To  thank  all  who  have  given  me  assistance  in  originating 
and  arranging  this  exhibition  would  be  a  gracious  but 
impracticable  task  ;  but  I  cannot  end  even  this  brief  note 
without  an  expression  of  my  gratitude  to  Mr.  George  E. 
Dimock,  whose  ready  generosit}-  has  alone  enabled  us  to 
defray  the  necessary  expense  of  such  an  exhibition. 

C.  B.  T. 


8  fTS-.  8 
Y3 


LIBPiAITY 

UMVE-JSITY  OF  CALIFORN^ 

SAInTA  BARBARA 


I.   Manuscripts,  Letters,  and  Proof-sheets. 

1.  Manuscript  of  Johnson's  Life  of  Pope,  with  a  letter  of 

the  author's  concerning  the  collection  of  material  for 
the  work. 

Lenf  by  Mr.  Morgan. 

2.  Proof-sheets  of  Johnson's  Life  of  Pope,  with  corrections 

in  his  own  hand.  On  the  first  page  is  written  in  Fanny 
Burney's  hand,  "Proof-sheets,  given  by  Dr.  Johnson 
to  F.  B." 

Fro>n  the  Adam  Collection. 

3.  Correspondence  of  Johnson  and  Dodd,  the  famous  con- 

vict, containing  in  all  thirty-two  documents. 

Lent  by  Air.  Newton. 

4.  Letter  of  Johnson   to    Mrs.   Thrale,    October   24,    1778, 

inserted  in  Mrs.  Thrale's  copy  of  the  Dictionary. 

Lent  by  Air.  Newton. 

5.  Correspondence  of  Johnson  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Taylor. 

Lent  by  Air.  Alorgan. 

6.  Johnson's  last  New  Year  prayer.     1784. 

Lent  by  Air.  Morgan. 

7.  Manuscript   of   Mrs.    Piozzi's    Anecdotes    of    the    Late 

Samuel  Johnson. 

Lent  by  Air.  Alorgan, 

8.  Proof-sheets   of  Boswell's   Life    of   Johnson,   with    cor- 

rections in  Boswell's  own  hand.     Two  volumes. 

From  the  Ada?n  Collection. 


4 

Selected  insertions  in  the  extra-illustrated  volumes  relat- 
ing to  Johnson  lent  by  Mr.  Adam.  These  volumes 
are  so  rich  in  original  manuscripts,  letters,  and  engrav- 
ings that  an  enumeration  is  impracticable;  but  among 
the  treasures  which  may  be  mentioned  are:  Johnson's 
famous  letter  to  Macpherson;  numerous  letters  to  and 
from  Mrs.  Thrale;  letters  of  Boswell,  Goldsmith, 
Garrick,  Reynolds,  Burke,  and  others;  the  preliminary 
draft  for  the  Plan  of  an  English  Dictionary;  and  a 
manuscript  list  of  the  members  of  the  Literary  Club. 
For  a  description  of  the  various  items,  see  cards. 


II.    Editions  of  Johnson's  Works. 

(Unless  otherwise  noted,  all  are  tirst  editions.) 

10.  Translation  of  Lobo's  Voyage  to  Ab3'ssinia.     London, 

1735-     Johnson's  first  independent  publication. 

From  the  Yale  Library. 

11.  Preface  to  the  Gentleman's  Magazine  for  1738. 

From  the  Yale  Library. 

12.  London,  a  Poem.     Second  edition.     London,  1738.    Two 

editions  were  called  for  in  one  week. 

From  the  Yale  Library. 

13.  Marmor  Norfolciense,   London,  1739.     ^^  attack   upon 

the  House  of  Hanover.     Pope  wrote    to   Richardson 
that  this  was  "  verj'  Humerous"  [sic]. 

From  the  Yale  Library. 

14.  Life  of  Drake,  in  the  Gentleman's  Magazine  for  1740. 

From  the  Yale  Library. 


15.  Life  of  Richard  Savage.     London,  1744.     A  hack-writer 

with  whom  Johnson  had  often  "wandered  .   .   .  whole 
nights  in  the  streets,"  unable  to  pay  for  a  lodging. 

From  the  Adam  Collection. 

16.  Observations  on  IMacbeth.     London,   1745.     Containing 

Johnson's  plans  for  a  new  edition  of  Shakespeare. 

Frotn  the  Yale  Library. 

17.  Prologue  and  Epilogue,  Spoken  at  the  Opening  of  the 

Drury  Lane  Theatre,  1747.     London,  1747.     The  only 
copy  in  existence. 

Lent  by  Dr.  Rosenbach. 

iS.  The  Vanity  of  Human  Wishes.     London,  1749. 

From  the  Adam  Collection. 

19.  The  Rambler.     The  original  papers  for  1750-52. 

From  the  Yale  Library. 

20.  Irene.     A  Tragedy.     London,  1749.     Written  in  1736-37, 

acted  by  Garrick  in  1749. 

From  the  Yale  Library. 

21.  The  Prince  of  Abissinia.     A  Tale.     London,  1759.     Two 

volumes.     This  work   was    not   entitled   Rasselas  till 
after  Johnson's  death. 

Lent  by  Mr.  Neivton. 

22.  Rasselas.     First  American  edition.     Hartford,  1803. 

23.  Mr.  Johnson's  Preface  to  his  Edition  of  Shakespeare's 

Plays.     London,  1765. 

Fro?n  the  Adam  Collection, 

24.  Journey  to  the  Western  Islands  of  Scotland.     London, 

1775. 

Lent  by  Professor  Berdan. 

25.  Taxation  no  Tyranny.     London,  1775. 

From  the  Yale  Library. 


26.   Political  Pamphlets,  containing  The  False  Alarm,  Falk- 
land's Islands,  The  Patriot,  etc.     London,  1776. 

Lent  by  Air.  Newton. 

11.  Lives  of  the  Poets,  in  four  volumes.     London,  1781. 

Lent  by  Professor  Phelps. 

28.  The  Poetical  Works  of  Samuel  Johnson,   now  first  col- 

lected.    London,  1785. 

From  the  Yale  Library. 

29.  Works,   in   eleven   volumes,   London,    1787.     First  col- 

lected edition. 

Lent  by  Professor  Tinker. 


HI.   The  Dictionary. 

30.  Plan  of  a  Dictionary  of  the  English  Language,  addressed 

to  the  Earl  of  Chesterfield.     London,  1747. 

Lent  by  Mr.  Newton. 

31.  Dictionary   of   the    English   Language.      London,    1755. 

The  second  volume  lies  open  at  the  famous  definition 
of  Oats. 

From  the  Yale  Library. 

32.  Same.     Abridged  edition.     London,  1756. 

From  the  Yale  Library. 

33.  Same.      First   American    edition.       Philadelphia,    1818; 

containing  a  prospectus  of  the  volume. 

Lent  by  Professor  Berdan. 

34.  Catalogue  of  the  Yale  Library  for  1791,  showing  that  the 

only  English   Dictionary   owned  by  the   college  was 

Johnson's. 

From  the  Yale  Library. 


IV.   Editions  of  Boswell's  Works. 

(All  are  first  editions,  except  the  last  mentioned.) 

35.  Account  of  Corsica  and  Memoirs  of   Paoli.     Glasgow, 

1768. 

Lent  by  Professor  Phelps. 

36.  Letter  to  the  People  of  Scotland.     1781. 

From  the  Adam  Collection. 

37.  Journal  of  a  Tour  to  the  Hebrides  with  Samuel  Johnson. 

London,  1786. 

From  the  Yale  Library. 

38.  Life  of  Johnson.     London,  1791.     Two  volumes. 

Lent  by  Professor  Berdan. 

39.  Same.     Second  edition.     London,  1793.    Three  volumes. 

From  the  Yale  Library. 


V.    Early  Works  about  Johnson. 

(Volumes  which  appeared  before  Bosv/ell's  Life  are  starred.) 

40.*  Prayers  and  Meditations  composed  b)^  Samuel  Johnson, 
and  published  from  his  manuscripts  by  George  Strahan. 

London,  1785. 

From  the  Adam  Collection. 

41.  Annals   of   the   Life  of   Johnson  from  his  birth  to   his 

eleventh   year,    written    by   himself.      London,    1805. 

Not  used  by  Boswell. 

From  the  Yale  Library. 

42.*  Anecdotes    of    the    late    Samuel    Johnson    by   Hesther 

Lynch  Piozzi.     London,  1786.     The  first  edition.     For 

the  MS.  see  number  7. 

From  the  Adam  Collection. 


43-  Essay  on  the  Life  and  Genius  of  Samuel  Johnson.  By 
Arthur  Murphy.     [London,  1792.] 

From  the  Yale  Library. 

44.  The  Witticisms,  Anecdotes,  Jests,  and  Sayings  of  Dr. 
Samuel  Johnson.  By  J.  Merrj'.  Second  edition. 
London,  1793. 

Lent  by  Air.  Newton. 

45.*  More  Last  Words  of  Dr.  Johnson.     London,  1787. 

From  the  Adam  Collection. 

46.*  Bozzy  and  Piozzi,  or  the  British  Biographers.  By  Peter 
Pindar.  London,  1786.  With  cartoon  representing  a 
quarrel  between  Boswell  and  Mrs.  Piozzi.  The  seated 
figure  is  Mr.  Piozzi. 

Lent  by  Mr.  Newton. 

47.  Dr.  Johnson's  Table  Talk.     Selected  and  arranged  from 

Mr.  Boswell's  Life  of  Johnson.     London,  179S. 

Lent  by  Mr.  Newton. 

48.  Johnsoniana,  or  Supplement  to  BoswelL     London,  1836. 

Lent  by  Mr.  Newton. 


VI.    Unclassified  Works. 

49.  The  Vicar  of  Wakefield.     Salisbury,  1766.    Two  volumes. 

First   edition.     Very   rare.      Dr.   Johnson    negotiated 
the   publication   of   this   work    while    Goldsmith  was 

under  arrest. 

Lent  by  Mr.  Neivton. 

50.  The  Traveller.     Fifth  edition.     London,  1770.     Boswell's 

copy,   containing  the  marks  inserted   by  Johnson  to 
indicate  the  lines  he  had  contributed  to  the  poem. 

Fro7H  the  Adam  Collection. 


9 

51.  Boswell's  Copy  of  Randolph's  Poems,  with  autograph. 

Lent  by  Professor  Berdan. 

52.  Mrs.  Thrale's  copy  of   the   Memoirs  of    Psalmanazar  (a 

famous  impostor,  acquainted  with  Johnson),  given  to 
her  by  Dr.  Johnson.  Manuscript  notes  by  Mrs. 
Thrale. 

Lent  by  iMr.  N'ervton. 

53.  Manuscript  diary  of   President  Stiles  of   Yale  College. 

Entry  for  June  4,  1786,  containing  an  account  of  his 
reading  a  volume  of  Johnson. 

From  the  Yale  Library. 

54.  Boswell's  copy  of  the  Government  of  the  Tongue,  pre- 

sented to  him  by  Langton.  Interesting  MS.  note  by 
Boswell,  1779. 

From  the  Adam  Collection. 

VII.    Engravings. 

(Unless  otherwise  stated,  the  engravings  are  lent  by  Professor  Tinker.) 

Of  Johnson. 

1.  Engraving  from  a  portrait  by  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds  (1756), 

representing  Johnson  at  a  table  upon  which  stands  the 
folio  dictionar}'.  Reynolds's  first  portrait  of  Johnson. 
For  the  first  engraving  see  number  38  (IV). 

2.  Engraving  by  T.  Cook  (dated  1785)  from   a  portrait  by 

Reynolds,  painted  in  1773,  for  Topham  Beauclerk. 
Upon  the  frame  Beauclerk  wrote  "  Ingenium  ingens 
inculto  latet  hoc  sub  corpore." 

3.  The  same,  1786. 

4.  Engraving  of  the  same  (dated  1781)  by  T.  Trotter.     Re- 

versed. 


5.  Engraving   by   Edwards  (dated    1823)   of    Mrs.    Piozzi's 

replica  of  the  same. 

6.  Engraving  by  Watson  (dated    1770)  from  a  portrait  by 

Reynolds,  painted  for  Johnson's  step-daughter,  about 
1770. 

Lent  by  Keppel  (St^  Co. 

7.  Engraving   b)'    Hall    (dated    17S7)    from    a    portrait    by 

Reynolds. 

Lent  by  Wright  &^  Co. 

8.  Modern  engraving  by  Sanders  of  the  same. 

Lent  by  W7-ight  dr^  Co. 

9.  Engraving  by  Zobel  of  a  portrait  by  Reynolds,  represent- 

ing  Johnson    in   a  tie-wig,   holding  a   copy  of  Lrene. 
Probably  ideal. 

Lent  by  Mr.  Newton. 

10.  Engraving  in  Armstrong's  Reynolds  of  an  imaginary  por- 

trait by  Reynolds  of  Johnson  as  a  baby. 

11.  Engraving  of  a  drawing  by  Ozias  Humphrey,  taken  from 

No.  6. 

12.  Engraving  by  Davenport  of  a   portrait  by  Opie  (1783). 

Allegorical  device  of  Hercules  slaying  the  Hydra. 

13.  Engraving  by  Smith  (dated  iSoS)  of  a  portrait  by  Barry. 

14.  Engraving  by  Clauson  of  a  portrait  by  Northcote. 

15.  Photograph   of  a  miniature  by  Miss  Frances  Reynolds 

(sister  of  Sir  Joshua). 

16.  Engraving    by   Trotter,    dated    1782,    of    a   drawing   by 

Harding. 

17.  Etching,  dated  1786,  by  Trotter,  of  his  drawing  of  John- 

son "a  short  time  before  his  decease." 


II 

i8.  Engraving  by  Trotter,  dated  1786,  of  his  imaginar}^  draw- 
ing of  Johnson  in  the  Hebrides.     The  face  was  drawn 

from  life. 

Lent  by  Mr.  Newton. 

19.  Engraving  of   Trotter's  imaginary  drawing  of  Johnson 

standing  with  raised  hand. 

20.  Engraving  by  Finden  of  a  bust  by  Nollekens  (1777). 

21.  Engraving  by  Bartolozzi,  dated  17S5. 

22.  Unsigned    engraving   of   Johnson   looking    at    his   pen. 

Early. 

23.  Early  engraving  of  an  imaginary  bust. 

24.  Engraving  by  J.  R.  Smith,  dated  1781,  of  a  promenade  at 

the  Carlisle  House.     Johnson  is  in  the  ante-room. 

Lent  by  Dr.  Rosenbach. 

Of  Boswell. 

1.  Engraving  by  Jones  of  a  portrait  by  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds. 

2.  Another,  of  the  same. 

3.  Lithograph  by  Daniell  (dated  1808)  of  Dance's  drawing 

(1793)- 

4.  Engraving  by  Holl  of  a  sketch  by  Sir  Thomas  Lawrence. 

5.  Engraving  by  Miller  of  a  drawing  by  Wale  representing 

Boswell  as  an  Armed  Corsican. 

Of  Johnsoniana. 

(Lent  by  J.  O.  Wright  &  Co.  of  New  York  City.) 

1.  Michael  Johnson. 

2.  House  where  Johnson  was  born. 


12 

3-   Grammar   School   which  he   attended ;    and    Edial    Hall 

where  he  kept  school,  1736. 
If 

4.  Johnson's  Home  1766-1776. 

5.  Thrale's  House  at  Streatham,  where  Johnson  passed  his 

happiest  days. 

6.  The  Summer-house  at  Streatham. 

7.  Johnson's  House  in  Bolt  Court. 

8.  Johnson  in  his  Sitting-room.     Imaginary. 

9.  Engraving  (dated  1791)  of  the  Round  Robin  concerning 

the  Epitaph  of  Goldsmith. 

10.  Sketch  for  Johnson's  Tombstone  in  Westminster  Abbey. 

11.  Cartoon  (dated  1786)  representing  the  bust  of  Dr.  John- 

son frowning  at  Boswell  and  Mrs.  Piozzi.  The  former 
is  represented  as  composing  the  Tour  to  the  Hebrides. 
Antedates  the  Life. 

12.  Cartoon  (dated  1788)  representing  the  ghost  of  Johnson 

haunting  Mrs.  Piozzi  as  she  prepares  an  edition  of  his 
letters.     Portrait  of  Boswell  on  the  wall. 

13.  Cartoon   representing   the   ghost   of    Johnson    haunting 

Boswell  as  he  pieces  together  his  Life  of  Johnson. 


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